Skin cooling device using thermoelectric element

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a skin cooling device which utilizes the sensory ability of the skin as an integumentary sense organ so that it is applicable to medical treatments and surgical operations, while being configured to use the heat absorbing effect of a thermoelectric element while having a small size to be easily handled. The skin cooling device includes a case having a size allowing the user to grasp the case by the hand, and a thermoelectric element installed in the case. The thermoelectric element has a heat emitting portion and a heat absorbing portion. The skin cooling device also includes a heat sink unit provided at the heat emitting portion of the thermoelectric element, and cold heat transfer unit provided at the heat absorbing portion of the thermoelectric element, and adapted to locally transfer cold heat from the thermoelectric element to the skin. Thus, the cold heat can be locally applied to the skin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a skin cooling device whichutilizes the sensory ability of the skin as an integumentary sense organso that it is applicable to medical treatments and surgical operations,and more particularly to a skin cooling device which is configured touse the heat absorbing effect of a thermoelectric element while having asmall size to be easily handled.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Cooling the human body makes it possible to obtain variouseffects such as alleviation of pain, constriction of blood vessels, andsuppression of inflammatory reaction. Although appliances for generatingsuch a cooling effect have been proposed, they are used only in limitedfields, due to diverse reasons.

[0005] For example, cooling devices have been proposed which are appliedto a skin cooling method for medical treatment of skin troubles ormedical treatment using a laser. In the case of a cooling device appliedto medical treatment of skin troubles, it is configured to use heat ofvaporization generated during vaporization of liquid nitrogen. However,this cooling device has a disadvantage in that it cannot be easilyhandled under general surgical operation conditions because of itscomplex configuration. In the cooling device, it is also difficult toachieve an easy temperature control. Furthermore, there is inconveniencein use because the use time is limited due to the vaporization rate ofthe liquid nitrogen. On the other hand, in the case of a cooling deviceapplied to medical treatment using a laser, it is configured to applycold air, supplied from a cooling unit via a tube, to a body portion tobe surgically operated. However, this cooling device is bulky andexpensive. Furthermore, there is inconvenience in that the coolingdevice has a low cooling speed.

[0006] For this reason, the above mentioned cooling devices have beenused in very limited fields, for example, only in surgical operationfields. In particular, these cooling devices cannot achieve easy coolingof a very small area of skin. Since the conventional cooling devices areconfigured to utilize a compressed refrigerant or heat of vaporization,their configurations are complex. As a result, these cooling devices arevery inconvenient to use for medical treatment and surgical operationpurposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a coolingdevice which is capable of locally cooling the human body so that it iseasily applicable to surgical operations and medical treatment of skintroubles and other troubles.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a skin coolingdevice having a simple configuration so as to be easily handled whilebeing capable of rapidly obtaining a desired cooling effect, and havinga size-reduced and inexpensive construction so as to be effectively usedfor treatment of pimples and pain alleviation or treatment of skin rashand insect bites, not only in general surgical operation fields, butalso in the home.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a skin coolingdevice which can reduce, as much as possible, the operation delay timecaused by selection and handling of surgical instruments required for aseries of operations to be carried out in an operating room foralleviation of pain at the body portion being operated and removal offoreign matters during a surgical operation such as a surgical operationusing a laser, thereby achieving an enhancement in the efficiency ofsurgical operations, and a reduction in operating time.

[0010] In accordance with the present invention, these objects areaccomplished by providing a skin cooling device comprising: a casehaving a size allowing a user to grasp the case by the hand; at leastone thermoelectric element installed in the case, the thermoelectricelement having a heat emitting portion and a heat absorbing portion;heat sink means provided at the heat emitting portion of thethermoelectric element; and cold heat transfer means provided at theheat absorbing portion of the thermoelectric element, and adapted tolocally transfer cold heat from the thermoelectric element to the skin,whereby the cold heat is locally applied to the skin.

[0011] In this configuration, the thermoelectric element is adapted toutilize a thermoelectric phenomenon in which an exothermic reaction isgenerated at one side of the thermoelectric element, and an endothermicreaction (cooling) is generated at the other side of the thermoelectricelements in accordance with the polarities of DC current applied to thethermoelectric material of the thermoelectric element. This element isused to obtain both the cooling and heating effects, or to achieve anexchange of heat with electricity in heat power generation fields.

[0012] The present invention is applied to cooling of the skin byutilizing the heat absorbing phenomenon occurring at the thermoelectricelement. Heat sink means is provided at the heat emitting portion of thethermoelectric element, whereas cold heat transfer means is provided atthe heat absorbing portion of the thermoelectric element to transfercold heat to the skin. The heat absorbing temperature varies dependingon the heat sink efficiency of the thermoelectric element. Thethermoelectric element and heat sink means are configured to adjust thecooling temperature within a range of 3° C. to−30° C.

[0013] The heat sink means may be of either an air cooling type or awater cooling type. The cold heat transfer means may be of a skincontact type using a contact tip made of a heat transferring metallicmaterial or a cold air application type using a fan.

[0014] The case has a rectangular shape having a size allowing the userto grasp the case by the hand while carrying the heat sink means, coldheat transfer means, and thermoelectric element. There is no particularlimitation on the outer structure of the case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The above objects, and other features and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent after a reading of thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a skin cooling device according toan embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an internalconfiguration of the skin cooling device;

[0017]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the skin cooling device,illustrating an external configuration of the skin cooling device;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of thepresent invention in which an air cooling type heat sink unit is used;

[0019]FIGS. 4a to 4 c are perspective views respectively illustratingskin contact tips according to different embodiments of the presentinvention;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of thepresent invention in which a cold air application type cold heattransfer unit is used;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of thepresent invention in which a cold heat transfer unit having a combinedtype of a skin contact type and a cold air application type is used,while illustrating a part of the cold heat transfer unit in the form ofa perspective view;

[0022]FIGS. 7a to 7 d are sectional views respectively illustratingconfigurations in which respective cold heat transfer units areconfigured to be of a detachable type; and

[0023]FIGS. 8a and 8 b are views respectively illustrating clipsprovided at respective cold heat transfer units in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a skin cooling device according to anembodiment of the present invention. In accordance with the embodimentof the present invention, the skin cooling device basically includes acase 10 having a rectangular shape, at least one thermoelectric element20 installed in the case 10, a heat sink unit 30 arranged at an upperheat emitting portion 21 of the thermoelectric element 20, and a coldheat transfer unit 40 coupled to a lower heat absorbing portion 22 ofthe thermoelectric element 20.

[0025] The case 10 has a size of 8 cm×5 cm×2 cm in width, length, andthickness. The case 10 of such a size may receive three or fourthermoelectric elements each having a size of 0.8 cm ×0.8 cm ×0.5 cm, orone or two thermoelectric elements of a larger size.

[0026] A space 31 is defined in the case 10 over the thermoelectricelement 20. A DC voltage source is connected across the thermoelectricelement 20 such that the upper and lower portions of the thermoelectricelement 20 serve as a heat emitter and a heat absorber, respectively.

[0027] The space 31 defined over the thermoelectric element 20 isprovided for the heat sink unit 30. In the illustrated embodiment, theheat sink unit is of a water cooling type.

[0028] That is, two tubes 32 are each connected at one end thereof tothe case 10 such that it communicates with the space 31. Each tube 32 isalso connected at the other end thereof to an external cooling unit 33.

[0029] The heat sink unit 30 radiates heat, and transfers the radiatedheat to water from the cooling unit 33 circulating through the space 31.Accordingly, a superior heat sink effect is obtained over an air coolingtype structure. When current flows through the thermoelectric element20, a heat absorbing effect is generated at the thermoelectric element20 in proportion to the heat sink ability of the thermoelectric element20. Accordingly, it is possible to widen the effective coolingtemperature range of the cooling device.

[0030] The heat sink unit 30 influences the heat absorption efficiencyof the thermoelectric element 20. Accordingly, where the heat sink unit30 is of a water cooling type, it is possible to lower the coolingtemperature of the heat sink unit 30 by lowering the temperature of thewater circulating through the heat sink unit 30.

[0031] In this regard, it is preferable to provide a heat exchanger atthe cooling unit so as to sufficiently lower the temperature of thecooling water. The cooling unit may be configured using a thermoelectricelement having a heat absorbing portion coming into contact withcirculating cooling water so that it has a reduced size.

[0032] In accordance with the present invention, the heat sink unit maybe of an air cooling type, in place of the water cooling type. In thiscase, an air inlet 34 may be formed at the case 10 to communicate withthe space 31, so as to introduce external air into the space 31, asshown in FIG. 3. A tube 35 is connected at one end thereof to the case10 to communicate with the space 31. The tube 35 is also connected to anexternal exhaust unit 36 at the other end thereof.

[0033] The cold heat transfer unit 40 is coupled to the lower portion 22of the thermoelectric element 20 serving as a heat absorber.

[0034] The cold heat transfer unit 40 may have diverse types. Takinginto consideration practical applications and sterility, the cold heattransfer unit may be of a skin contact type, a cold air applicationtype, in which cold air is applied to the skin, or a combined typethereof

[0035] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cold heattransfer unit 40 is of the skin contact type in which a skin contact tip41 is used. In accordance with this embodiment, a tip fitting hole 41 ais formed at a portion of the case 10 contacting the bottom of the heatabsorber 22. The skin contact tip 41 is separably fitted in the tipfitting hole 41 a at one end thereof. Thus, cold heat can be transferredto the skin contact tip 41.

[0036] The skin contact tip 41 has a fitting portion 41 b, and a skincontact portion 41 c, and is made of a metal having a high thermalconductivity, for example, silver, copper, or aluminum.

[0037] The skin contact tip 41 comes into indirect contact with the heatabsorbing portion 22 of the thermoelectric element 20 at the fittingportion 41 b thereof, so that cold heat from the thermoelectric element20 is transferred to the skin contact portion 41 c which, in turn,directly applies the transferred cold heat to the skin.

[0038] The skin contact portion 41 c of the skin contact tip 41 may havediverse shapes, taking into consideration the keenness of theintegumentary sense organ. FIGS. 4a to 4 c illustrate variousembodiments of the skin contact tip, respectively.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 4a to 4 c, the skin contact tip is configuredto have a circular hole or “U”-shaped groove 41 d. This hole or groove41 d serves to alleviate pain on the basis of the keenness of theintegumentary sense organ.

[0040] The second finger having a keenest intergumentary sense organ canrecognize stimuli at two points spaced about 2.5 mm or more apart. Forthis reason, when the second finger is pricked with two needles atpoints spaced less than 2.5 mm apart, respectively, it cannot recognizeboth of the pricked points, but recognizes only one point. In the caseof the face skin, the distance of about 5 mm or more can be recognized.For this reason, when a stimulus is applied to the face skin within aregion defined by the hole or groove of the skin contact tip under thecondition in which the skin contact tip in a cold state is in contactwith the face skin, it is difficult for the face skin to distinguish thestimulus from the cold applied thereto. Accordingly, the pain uponpopping a pimple, removing a spot, or getting a shot cannot berecognized.

[0041] Thus, the above described skin contact tip can be applied invarious manners to surgical operations and practical life.

[0042]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention inwhich a cold air application type cold heat transfer unit 42 is used. Inaccordance with this embodiment, the cold heat transfer unit 42 includesa space 42 a defined beneath the lower heat absorbing portion 22 of thethermoelectric element 20, a motor 42 b installed in the space 42 a, afan 42 c installed in the space 42 a, and coupled to the motor 42 b, anda cold air guide tube 42 d connected to an outlet formed at the space 42a while extending outwardly from the outlet.

[0043] In accordance with this configuration, cold heat generated fromthe thermoelectric element 20 is outwardly discharged via the cold airguide tube 42 d in accordance with a blowing operation of the fan 42 cso that it is applied to the skin. This cooling device can locally coolthe skin to alleviate pain generated during a surgical operation whilesimultaneously removing fumes or odor generated during anelectro-cauterization or a medical treatment using a laser. It is alsopossible to localize the reactive hyperemia phenomenon exhibited afterthe cooling of the skin, thereby actively limiting increase of bloodflow, increased absorption of a skin coating agent, and secretion of aninflammatory substance such as histamine. Accordingly, there is aneffect of suppressing an inflammatory reaction immediately following askin trauma such as a wound or a sting by an insect. Thus, the coolingdevice of this embodiment can be advantageously applied to practicallife.

[0044]FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention inwhich a cold heat transfer unit 43 having a combined type of the skincontact type and the cold air application type is used. In accordancewith this embodiment, the cold heat transfer unit 43 includes a space 43a defined beneath the lower heat absorbing portion 22 of thethermoelectric element 20, a motor 43 b installed in the space 43 a, afan 43 c installed in the space 43 a, and coupled to the motor 43 b, askin contact tip 43 d connected to an outlet formed at the space 43 a,and a cold air guide passage 43 e defined in the skin contact tip 43 dso as to allow cold air from the space 43 a to be outwardly dischargedfrom an outlet end of the skin contact tip 43 d.

[0045] In accordance with this configuration, the skin is cooled bybringing the skin contact tip 43 d into contact with the skin whilesimultaneously applying cold air to the skin. Accordingly, theadvantages of both the skin contact type and the cold air applicationtype are obtained.

[0046]FIGS. 7a to 7 d illustrate configurations for achieving effectiveuse of the cold heat transfer unit while allowing the cold heat transferunit to be replaceable with another type, that is, the skin contacttype, cold air application type or combined type, if necessary,respectively. In either configuration, the lower heat absorbing portionof the thermoelectric element mounted in the case 10 is exposed in adownward direction. A lower case 11 is provided which is detachablycoupled to the case 10 to cover the lower portion of the thermoelectricelement. A cold heat transfer unit 41, 42, or 43 of the skin contacttype, cold air application type or combined type is mounted in the case10.

[0047] In accordance with these configurations, it is possible to use acommon upper construction while using various types of cold heattransfer units. Accordingly, it is possible to replace the cold heattransfer unit with a desired type in accordance with the body portion tobe operated or treated.

[0048]FIGS. 8a and 8 b illustrate clips 50 for holding sterilizedcottons or gauzes 51 at the skin contact tip 41 or 43 d and the cold airguide tube 42 of the cold heat transfer unit, respectively.

[0049] In accordance with this configuration, the user can convenientlyperform a surgical operation while simultaneously cooling the skin andcleaning the body portion being operated, using the cooling device ofthe present invention, under the condition in which he holds a lasersurgical instrument or an electro-cauterizer in one hand while holding,in the other hand, the cooling device with a sterilized cotton or gauzebeing held between upper and lower portions of the clip 50, withoutusing any separate instrument for clipping the sterilized cotton orgauze to clean the body portion being operated. Accordingly, the usercan devote himself to the surgical operation. Also, it is possible toachieve an enhancement in the efficiency of the surgical operation, anda reduction in operation time.

[0050] The above described configuration according to the presentinvention is adapted to effectively conduct local cooling of the skin byutilizing a thermoelectric effect generated by the thermoelectricelement. Although the preferred embodiments of the present inventionhave been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutionsare possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. For example, variousembodiments may be implemented in association with the shape of thecase, the heat sink unit, and the cold heat transfer unit.

[0051] In accordance with the present invention, it is also possible toobtain an effect of locally stimulating the skin by hot heat by changingthe polarity of current applied to the thermoelectric element whileusing the same configuration, by virtue of the characteristics of thethermoelectric element. It will be appreciated that such a changepertains to another application of the present invention, and fallswithin the scope of the invention.

[0052] As apparent from the above description, the present inventionprovides a cooling device which is capable of locally cooling the humanbody so that it is easily applicable to surgical operations and medicaltreatment of skin troubles and other troubles. The cooling device of thepresent invention has a simple configuration so as to be easily handledwhile being capable of rapidly obtaining a desired cooling effect. Thecooling device also has a size-reduced and inexpensive construction soas to be effectively used for treatment of pimples and pain alleviationor treatment of skin rash and insect bites, not only in general surgicaloperation fields, but also in the home.

[0053] In accordance with the present invention, it is also possible toreduce, as much as possible, the operation delay time caused byselection and handling of surgical instruments required for a series ofoperations to be carried out in an operating room for alleviation ofpain at the body portion being operated and removal of foreign mattersduring a surgical operation such as a surgical operation using a laser,thereby achieving an enhancement in the efficiency of surgicaloperations, and a reduction in operating time.

What is claimed is:
 1. A skin cooling device comprising: a case having asize allowing a user to grasp the case by the hand; at least onethermoelectric element installed in the case, the thermoelectric elementhaving a heat emitting portion and a heat absorbing portion; heat sinkmeans provided at the heat emitting portion of the thermoelectricelement; and cold heat transfer means provided at the heat absorbingportion of the thermoelectric element, and adapted to locally transfercold heat from the thermoelectric element to the skin, whereby the coldheat is locally applied to the skin.
 2. The skin cooling deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the heat sink means comprises: a confinedspace provided at the heat emitting portion of the thermoelectricelement; and two tubes each connected at one end thereof to the casesuch that it communicates with the space, each tube being connected atthe other end thereof to an external cooling unit, whereby discharge ofheat from the heat sink means is carried out in accordance withcirculation of water in the space.
 3. The skin cooling device accordingto claim 1, wherein the heat sink means comprises: a confined spaceprovided at the heat absorbing portion of the thermoelectric element; anair inlet formed at the case to communicate with the space; and a tubeconnected at one end thereof to the case to communicate with the space,the tube being connected to an external exhaust unit at the other endthereof, whereby discharge of heat from the heat sink means is carriedout in accordance with exhaustion of air from the space.
 4. The skincooling device according to claim 1, wherein the cold heat transfermeans comprises: a tip fitting hole formed at a portion of the casecontacting the bottom of the heat absorbing portion of thethermoelectric element; and a skin contact tip separably fitted in thetip fitting hole at one end thereof, and adapted to come into contactwith the skin, whereby the cold heat is transferred to the skin contacttip, thereby causing the skin to be cooled.
 5. The skin cooling deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the skin contact tip has a fittingportion, and a skin contact portion provided with a groove.
 6. The skincooling device according to claim 1, wherein the cold heat transfermeans comprises: a confined space provided at the heat absorbing portionof the thermoelectric element; a motor installed in the space; a faninstalled in the space, and coupled to the motor; a cold air guide tubeconnected to an outlet formed at the space while extending outwardlyfrom the outlet, whereby the cold heat transfer means is of a cold airapplication type for applying the cold air to the skin.
 7. The skincooling device according to claim 1, wherein the cold heat transfermeans comprises: a confined space provided at the heat absorbing portionof the thermoelectric element; a motor installed in the space; a faninstalled in the space, and coupled to the motor; a skin contact tipconnected to an outlet formed at the space; and a cold air guide passagedefined in the skin contact tip to allow cold air from the space to beoutwardly discharged from an outlet end of the skin contact tip, wherebythe cold heat transfer means is of a combined type for cooling the skinby bringing the skin contact tip into contact with the skin whilesimultaneously applying cold air to the skin.
 8. The skin cooling deviceaccording to claim 4 further comprising a lower case detachably coupledto the case to cover the heat absorbing portion of the thermoelectricelement, the lower case carrying the cold heat transfer means therein,whereby the skin cooling device can have a common upper constructionwhile being capable of using various types of cold heat transfer meansby replacing the lower case with another one carrying another type ofcold heat transfer means, wherein the heat absorbing portion of thethermoelectric element is exposed from the case in a downward direction.9. The skin cooling device according to claim 5 further comprising alower case detachably coupled to the case to cover the heat absorbingportion of the thermoelectric element, the lower case carrying the coldheat transfer means therein, whereby the skin cooling device can have acommon upper construction while being capable of using various types ofcold heat transfer means by replacing the lower case with another onecarrying another type of cold heat transfer means, wherein the heatabsorbing portion of the thermoelectric element is exposed from the casein a downward direction.
 10. The skin cooling device according to claim6 further comprising a lower case detachably coupled to the case tocover the heat absorbing portion of the thermoelectric element, thelower case carrying the cold heat transfer means therein, whereby theskin cooling device can have a common upper construction while beingcapable of using various types of cold heat transfer means by replacingthe lower case with another one carrying another type of cold heattransfer means, wherein the heat absorbing portion of the thermoelectricelement is exposed from the case in a downward direction.
 11. The skincooling device according to claim 7 further comprising a lower casedetachably coupled to the case to cover the heat absorbing portion ofthe thermoelectric element, the lower case carrying the cold heattransfer means therein, whereby the skin cooling device can have acommon upper construction while being capable of using various types ofcold heat transfer means by replacing the lower case with another onecarrying another type of cold heat transfer means wherein the heatabsorbing portion of the thermoelectric element is exposed from the casein a downward direction.
 12. The skin cooling device according to claim4 wherein the cold heat transfer means is provided with a clip forholding a sterilized cotton or gauze at the cold heat transfer means.13. The skin cooling device according to claim 5 wherein the cold heattransfer means is provided with a clip for holding a sterilized cottonor gauze at the cold heat transfer means.
 14. The skin cooling deviceaccording to claim 6 wherein the cold heat transfer means is providedwith a clip for holding a sterilized cotton or gauze at the cold heattransfer means.
 15. The skin cooling device according to claim 7 whereinthe cold heat transfer means is provided with a clip for holding asterilized cotton or gauze at the cold heat transfer means.